James withington



(No Model.)

J. WITHINGTONQ BELT TIGHTBNBR.

Patented June 26, 1883.

WITNESSES:

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

JAMES WITHINGTON, OF CHAMBERSBURG, ASSIGNOR TO TRENTON IRON COMPANY, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

BELT-TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,276, dated June 26, 1883.

Application filed March 16, 1883. (X0 model.)

To all whom it may concern..- I

Be it known that 1, JAMES WITHINGTON, of Ohambersburg, New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Belt-Tighteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a class of devices employed to take up slack in belts and to prevent their slipping and insure perfect grip upon the pulleys which they are employedto drive.

In the accompanying drawings I have represented a preferred form .of apparatus conveniently embodying my improvements.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the entire apparatus, and Fig. 2 an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of the journal-boxes for the fulcrumshaft of the tightener-lever.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

, In the drawings, A represents a belt of any ordinary material, and in thepresent instance supposed to be employed to drive the driven pulley B.

G are fixed standards suitably erected one upon each side of the belt, and of such-construction, material, and proportions as convenience of manufacture may dictate. Upon their upper extremities they are each provided with a head-plate, D, upon each of which one of the journal-boxes E of the fulcrum-shaft of the tightener-lever is placed, and adapted to be adjusted by means of the adjusting-screws e.

F is the fulcrum-shaftfand G the tightenerlever, the latter consisting of oscillatory arms constituting a frame of any fit construction, provided with a fulcrumshaft, and being pro longed on one side of said shaft to an extent sufficient to fit it to carry the tightener roll or pulley H, which latter is preferably made of the full width of the belt. runs freely in journals at one extremity of the slack in'and keeps the belt taut, and the other devices connected with it simply co-operate to such result.

' I are vibratory rods or'arms fixedly pivoted at their lower extremities, preferably, to the This tightener-roll This roll is the base of the fixed standards. bratory rods are applied to each side of the tightenerlever, preferably in the manner represented in the drawings, and pass freely through swiveled keepers J, connected with the sides of the tightener-lever, above which keepers they are provided with dislccup s K, which slide freely upon them and rest upon the swiveled keepers, and are also provided with caps L, threaded upon them, so as to be adjustable in position. Between the diskcups and the caps are placed springs M, of any suitable character, but preferably ordinary spiral car-springs, although rubber cushions would answer the purpose.

Such being adescription of a preferred form of apparatus conveniently embodying my improvements, the operation will be easily understood. The entire apparatus being erected in suitable proximity to the driven pulley the belt of which it is desired to tighten, the tightener-roll is allowed to rest on said belt. The screwcaps are then adjusted upon the vibratory rods, so as to occasion a predetermined compression of the springs upon the disk-cups, through the instrumentality of which latter and the swiveled keepers such tension is imparted Two of these vi- 5o to the tightener-lever as in effect to cushion it upon either side of its fulcrum, with the result that the tightener-roll is held with an even yet yielding .pressure upon the belt.

The device permits of fluctuation of the belt without causing the latter to thump against the tightenenroll, relieves the belt from the sudden shocks to which belts are susceptible, and at the same time allows for fluctuation to a certain extent. The adjustment is such that the motion of thetightener-lever is almost imperceptible.

By the application of the adjusting-screws to the journal-boxes of the fulcrumshaft the tightener-lever can be set forward or back, or set slightly out of line, as is sometimes desira ble.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a belt-tightener, the combination of a pivoted oscillatory lever, a pulley or tightener roll connected with said lever, and cushioning devices upon both'sides of the fulcrum of said fulcrum thereof, and means for adjusting said lever, adapted to bear against and cushion the fulcrum with respect to said support. vibration of said lever. 4. In combination with the tightener-lever, 15

2. The combination of a vibratory lever vibratory rods, springs, and means for adjustequipped with a rotatable roll, means for suping the tension of said springs, substantially as porting the fulcrum of said lever, and vibraset forth.

tory rods connected with. said lever and In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto signed equipped with cushioning devices onboth sides my name this 10th day of March, A. D. 1883. of the fulcrum of said lever, adapted to bear JAMES XVITHINGTON. ro against said lever. In presence of- 3. The combination of the tightenerlever, I J. BONSALL TAYLOR,

fixed standards or kindred supports for the WV. 0. STRAWBRIDGE. 

